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No Pay? No Way! at the Royal Exchange Theatre

Creative Tourist

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No Pay? No Way!

Royal Exchange Theatre, City Centre
12 May-10 June 2023

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

From £5.00
No Pay? No Way at the Royal Exchange
Image courtesy of Johan Persson.
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Razor-sharp, chaotically funny and strikingly relevant, the UK premiere of No Pay? No Way! storms into the Royal Exchange Theatre this spring.

This brand-new version, written by Marieke Hardy, sees Dario Fo and Franca Rame’s raucous 1970s farce brought to life on the Royal Exchange Theatre’s iconic in-the-round stage.

A riotous production illuminating some of the most pressing issues in the UK today.

Ferocious and feisty, No Pay? No Way! is a political comedy offering a startlingly urgent and topical exploration of our global economic reality. A riotous production illuminating some of the most pressing issues in the UK today; revealing the truth around rising inflation and falling wages, this is a show about getting what you deserve.

No Pay? No Way! at the Royal Exchange
Image courtesy of Johan Persson.

The hilarious and twisted narrative centres around two bold and rebellious women, Antonia and Margherita. Hauntingly relevant, set at a time where prices are through the roof and when many are struggling to cover their gas bill, Antonia blows her top and leads an impromptu uprising at her local supermarket.

Newly liberated and out of control, a host of angry women storm the shop – shoplifting until they drop – like a “supermarket sweep on steroids”. Back at her family home, with her pile of newly-acquired loot, Antonia has to think quickly about where to hide the swag. Cue Margherita’s entrance and the creation of a miracle pregnancy.

No Pay? No Way at the Royal Exchange
Image courtesy of Johan Persson.

Farce at its jaw-achingly funny best.

This fiercely intelligent and fantastically witty show was a smash-hit success at the Sydney Opera House in 2020. Now, the Royal Exchange Theatre’s Joint Artistic Director Bryony Shanahan is at the helm of its thrilling UK premiere. The top-notch cast is headed up by Samantha Power (Wuthering Heights, Royal Exchange) as Antonia and Katherine Pearce (Husbands and Sons, National Theatre & Royal Exchange) as Margherita, alongside Roger Morlidge, Gurjeet Singh and Anwar Russell.

We absolutely love a farce and No Pay? No Way! has all the trappings to be wondrous. Bonkers, relentless farce at its jaw-achingly funny best.

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